Raül Romeva i Rueda

Entre el 20 i el 25 de gener tindrà lloc a Nairobi (Kenia) una nova edició del Fòrum Social Mundial (aquí el seu web). Novament ens trobarem diferents actors de la societat civil per abordar diferents vessants de les actuals problemàtiques mundials. En tant que participant en les diverses edicions anteriors, tant a escala mundial com regional, segueixo essent-ne un ferm partidari, i també en aquesta ocasió m’hi desplaçaré, juntament amb d’altres companyes i companyes del Grup Verds/ALE o d’ICV.

Entre d’altres activitats, (segueix…)

el Grup Verds/ALE, juntament amb la Fundació dels Verds alemanys Heinrich Böll, hem organitzat una jornada de treball que tindrà lloc diumenge sota el titol: ‘From resource Curse to Resurce Blessing: Managing Oil Wealth in Africa – Locally and Internationally’, de la qual en teniu més informació a continuació.

Public Seminar on Occasion of the World Social Forum

From Resource Curse to Resource Blessing: Managing Oil Wealth in Africa ? Locally and Internationally

Venue:                         Nairobi Safari Club

Date and Time:             Sunday, 21 January 2007, 14:00 – 18:00

The current rapid expansion of the oil and gas industry in many parts of Africa provides opportunities for the continent?s development, but it poses big challenges as well. Experiences of the past, especially in West Africa, provide vivid examples of what has become known as the ?resource curse? ? a situation where wealth generated from oil and gas production has led to economic dislocation, increased corruption, weakened state institutions, devastated the environment, and, in some cases, even violent conflicts.

Of course, there is nothing inherent to oil or gas revenue that produces such disturbing results. Instead, politics and institutions make natural resources a curse ? or a blessing. Governments and legislators decide on the macroeconomic management of oil revenue; their decisions are also important in making sure that relationships between oil-producing companies and their local host communities develop peacefully and productively, and that social and ecological damage is curbed down as quickly as possible. International financial institutions have played a major role in dictating conditions, often with disastrous consequences – in the past. Reviews of their behaviour are underway, but long from being satisfactorily finalised.  Civil society can support them all in this process.

On January 21st, 2007, the Nairobi office of the Heinrich Böll Foundation (HBF) and MPs of the Greens/European Free Alliance in the European Parliament will hold a public seminar addressing these issues. The seminar will take place as a side-event on the occasion of the World Social Forum (WSF Nairobi, January 20-25) that brings together prople from all parts of the world who are interested in developmental issues and hail from various backgrounds ? from members of parliament to civil society activists, in order to look for alternatives to the current economic world order.

Given the current expansion of the oil and gas sector in the East African region, it is high time to start a broader debate about the socially and ecologically sound management of the prospective oil wealth. Particular emphasis wil be given to the role, the EU can take in this process. The seminar will bring together perspectives from West Africa, from activists and legislators interested in resource politics issues internationally, and from legislators and experts from Kenya.

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Venue / Time: Nairobi Safari Club, Sunday, 21 January 2007, 14:00 – 18:00

PROGRAMA:

14:00 – 14:20 hrs

Welcome and introduction

Marie-Hélène Aubert (Green Member of European Parliament (MEP), France)

Axel Harneit-Sievers (Director, Director, HBF Nairobi)

• Introduction: Welcome; rationale of the seminar; concept of the ?resource curse? and ways to address it; explanation of the roles of different contributors

Chair: Raul Romeva, (Green MEP, Spain)

14:20 – 14:50 hrs

West African experiences: Oil companies, oil communities, and the Nigerian state

David Ugolor (African Network for Environment and Economic Justice, Benin-City, Nigeria)

• Background: Nigeria?s oil production; social and environmental effects; role of government and companies; corruption and institutional weakening; violence in the Niger Delta

14:50 – 15:30 hrs

International financial institution?s roles in extractive industries – the case of oil and gas

Ginting Longgena (Friends of the Earth International)

Nikki Reisch, Bank Information Center,  USA

• Overview about the IFI?s past and present activities and initiatives

• Overview about NEITI and PWYP: History and current state

15:30-16:00 Tea & Coffee Break

16:00 – 16:45 hrs

Oil exploration and future oil production in East Africa: What is the current state, and how will the resource curse be prevented?

Mary Kimotho M’Mukindia (MD, National Oil Corporation, Kenya)

• Policy on, and current state of, oil exploration and extraction in East Africa and, especially, Kenya

  Stephen Karekeze (AFREPREN, Nairobi)

  • Kenya?s energy policy: oil, gas, and the alternatives

  16:45 – 17:30 hrs

  Taming the companies, promoting state rules and institution-building (The role of legislators)

  n.n. (MP, Kenya)

  Ulrike Lunacek (Green MP, Austria, Co-Speaker European Green party)

  Carl Schlyter (Green MEP, Sweden)

  Alain Lipietz (Green MEP, France, rapporteur EIB)

  • Energy policy legislation (national)

  • Corporate legislation (national and international)

  17:30 – 17:45 hrs

  Conclusions and good bye

  Marie-Hélène Aubert and Axel Harneit-Sievers

 Font foto: BBC